Using context information to enhance mobile communications

Licenciate thesis

Abstract

Context-awareness means knowledge of the user’s physical and social
surroundings, which enables the creation of richer applications. In my
research I concentrate on different areas of context-awareness on the end
user’s point of view based on a literature study. I especially concentrate on
context-aware communication. I discuss the possible uses of context
information in practical context-aware communication applications and the way
context information can be created by the users. I also discuss the means
users have for obtaining context information of other parties and getting
informed when their contexts change, as well as what privacy concerns arise
from context-aware communication. Related research projects are presented and
evaluated against the literature study. The findings of the literature study
are also inspected against the 35 000 ideas for new mobile services that the
idea movement of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland collected in spring
2006. In addition to this, the ideas are also evaluated with users using a
web-based questionnaire. Also, an application framework for mobile
context-based messaging is developed. The questionnaire results indicate user
preferences and provide many practical examples of utilizing the context-aware
communication scenarios. Furthermore, the results are summarised to provide
practical guidelines for the creation of context-aware communication
applications. The application framework raises many questions on what should
be taken into account when developing mobile context-aware communication
applications.

abstract = "Context-awareness means knowledge of the user’s physical and social surroundings, which enables the creation of richer applications. In my research I concentrate on different areas of context-awareness on the end user’s point of view based on a literature study. I especially concentrate on context-aware communication. I discuss the possible uses of context information in practical context-aware communication applications and the way context information can be created by the users. I also discuss the means users have for obtaining context information of other parties and getting informed when their contexts change, as well as what privacy concerns arise from context-aware communication. Related research projects are presented and evaluated against the literature study. The findings of the literature study are also inspected against the 35 000 ideas for new mobile services that the idea movement of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland collected in spring 2006. In addition to this, the ideas are also evaluated with users using a web-based questionnaire. Also, an application framework for mobile context-based messaging is developed. The questionnaire results indicate user preferences and provide many practical examples of utilizing the context-aware communication scenarios. Furthermore, the results are summarised to provide practical guidelines for the creation of context-aware communication applications. The application framework raises many questions on what should be taken into account when developing mobile context-aware communication applications.",

N2 - Context-awareness means knowledge of the user’s physical and social
surroundings, which enables the creation of richer applications. In my
research I concentrate on different areas of context-awareness on the end
user’s point of view based on a literature study. I especially concentrate on
context-aware communication. I discuss the possible uses of context
information in practical context-aware communication applications and the way
context information can be created by the users. I also discuss the means
users have for obtaining context information of other parties and getting
informed when their contexts change, as well as what privacy concerns arise
from context-aware communication. Related research projects are presented and
evaluated against the literature study. The findings of the literature study
are also inspected against the 35 000 ideas for new mobile services that the
idea movement of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland collected in spring
2006. In addition to this, the ideas are also evaluated with users using a
web-based questionnaire. Also, an application framework for mobile
context-based messaging is developed. The questionnaire results indicate user
preferences and provide many practical examples of utilizing the context-aware
communication scenarios. Furthermore, the results are summarised to provide
practical guidelines for the creation of context-aware communication
applications. The application framework raises many questions on what should
be taken into account when developing mobile context-aware communication
applications.

AB - Context-awareness means knowledge of the user’s physical and social
surroundings, which enables the creation of richer applications. In my
research I concentrate on different areas of context-awareness on the end
user’s point of view based on a literature study. I especially concentrate on
context-aware communication. I discuss the possible uses of context
information in practical context-aware communication applications and the way
context information can be created by the users. I also discuss the means
users have for obtaining context information of other parties and getting
informed when their contexts change, as well as what privacy concerns arise
from context-aware communication. Related research projects are presented and
evaluated against the literature study. The findings of the literature study
are also inspected against the 35 000 ideas for new mobile services that the
idea movement of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland collected in spring
2006. In addition to this, the ideas are also evaluated with users using a
web-based questionnaire. Also, an application framework for mobile
context-based messaging is developed. The questionnaire results indicate user
preferences and provide many practical examples of utilizing the context-aware
communication scenarios. Furthermore, the results are summarised to provide
practical guidelines for the creation of context-aware communication
applications. The application framework raises many questions on what should
be taken into account when developing mobile context-aware communication
applications.